The Three Men I Admire Most.....

The heat has been atrocious these last few weeks. In fact, we missed the all-time hottest July by .2 of a degree (on average). These last few days I've been lucky, house-sitting in Avenel again. With the front and back doors open, there's a very enjoyable cross-breeze thorough the living room.

Today was to be my last day there, and normally I'd have packed up early and taken everything I'd brought with me back to my place. I was hungry, so instead I decided to go to the local McDonald's first, then pack up afterwards. I got in my car and drove down Butler intending to turn left on Prospect. As I got to the corner, I thought I recognized the guy who was crossing Butler down a little from me. I turned on to Prospect, pulled to the corner, and took a closer look.

I was right, I knew him. It was J. I puller out, went to the next corner, then 3 right turns put me back on Butler below Prospect. 

(J used to live across the hall from me, until he, his wife, and their son moved about 3 weeks ago. I didn't really know them, but what I did know was that he was on some kind of drug for a mental problem, and he had a drinking problem. These led to him being verbally abusive to his wife, which I heard on many occasions out in the hallway or outside my bedroom window - at any hour of the day or night. He didn't work that I could see, and what money he did come into went, most times, for beer. I didn't like him.)

I now turned left on Prospect, looking for him, and checking the area. He was just up ahead on the right, and I saw no one else about. I passed him, and made a u-turn when I reached Leesville. I now faced down Prospect, and J would be on the left, the driver's side. I took out the Flasher, and moved slowly forward. My windows were down. I kept looking around, using my mirrors, but could see no one out, and no cars were coming in either direction. He continued to move up the block,and I down, until we were next to each other.

He looked up, right at me. He may have even recognized me. I didn't care. I lifted the Flasher. Point, press, Flash, and I picked up a little speed moving down the block. I didn't bother to look back.

I continued my original attempt to go to McDonald's. I followed Prospect down, and across Avenel Street. As I passed Lord, my eye was caught by some movement on the porch of a house just off the corner on my left. To my right was a park, and looking around, there was no visible activity in the area.

I remembered that Doyle had told me that this Flasher could be used up to 3 times within a 24-hour period.

I made another u-turn at the next corner, and headed back toward Lord slowly. There's a stop sign on that corner. As I pulled up, I could see a man sitting on the porch, reading something. My windows were still open. I stopped, taking the Flasher out. No one around. No cars moving. Point, press, Flash. I drove back toward Avenel Street, and turned left. My phone beeped. Confirm 1.

 McDonald's was going to have to wait. I was going hunting for the 3rd Event.

Across St. George's Avenue, Avenel becomes Chain of Hills Road. Strange name. I took this and bore right onto New Dover Rd.. I then made a left on to Fairview, and headed for Merrill Park. I'd gone there a few times before, and always thought I might find an easy target there. My phone beeped. Confirm 2.

I drove into the park, keeping my eyes open for anything. I drove around to the far side, to a parking lot I knew of. It usually was only used when the local high schools used the ball park nearby. As I pulled in, I saw several transit workers over by the fence separating the park from the train tracks. I don't know what they were there for, but they didn't appear to be doing anything. I parked in the lot, the only other car being a minivan to the far left. Looking around, I noticed one of the transit workers sitting on e bench just to the right of the lot. He was alone. Just sitting there, with his head lowered, a lunch box in his lap. He looked to be napping.

I started the car, the Flasher by my side. I drove to the right, and as I turned around inside the lot, I came abreast of the transit worker. The joggers, walkers, and other transit workers went about their business. No one was interested in me, or what I was doing. The sun was bright, and my car would block most of the flash. I took the chance.

Point, press, Flash. I finished my turn, heading for the exit from the lot. I drove out, slowly, through the park. No one paid me any attention. I made the turn on to Overlook which took me back to New Dover, then Chain of Hills, the St. George's.

I headed for McDonald's. "American Pie" came on the radio. My phone beeped. Confirm 3.

Summertime, and the Living.....

I didn't get a chance to make an entry yesterday. We're in the middle of another heat wave (the third or fourth so far this month), and when I got home it was so hot, and Doyle called. I decided to wait and see what he had to say. This, then, might be considered a double-feature.

ONE: I was out yesterday morning, as usual. It was cooler then it has been, so I wanted to take advantage of it. After all, the humidity was due to come back strong. I'd had a good breakfast at the IHOP on Parsonage Road across from the Menlo Park Mall and decided to walk around in the mall for a while. I got bored pretty quickly.

I then drove to Metuchen to check out the library. Nothing new there, and still a little early. I took the long way around to the Inman Avenue branch of the Woodbridge Library, and intended to go from there to Rahway. The library was open, and their air conditioner was fixed so I spent a few minutes there. On my way back to the parking lot and my car, I noticed that there was a man, across the street, sitting on his front steps, painting the iron  hand railings. There was no one around.

I took out the Flasher, got into my car, rolled down the windows, and sat there a while. It was quiet. No people, no cars. Just me and the painter. I would be making a right turn to leave the parking lot, then a right onto Inman Avenue in order to get to Rahway. The painter would be on my left, the driver's side. I pulled out of the lot, made the turn, scanned the area, then ... point, press, Flash. I was at the corner making the right.

I was almost to Rahway when my cell went off. Confirmed.

TWO: Like I said, Doyle called yesterday. He picked me up in front of my place, and we drove around in his air conditioned car - definitely government issue. He looked rested - better then I'd seen him last.

"Getting some use out of the Flasher, I see."
"Trying to stay in practice. Anything new?"
"Yes and no. The 'no' first. 'No' they haven't come to an agreement on which politician to set you on, which brings us to the 'yes'. They have decided to scrap the whole of Phase 2. In fact, they've decided to postpone everything until September."
"What does that mean for me?"
"Well, Business as usual. You keep on doing exactly what you've been doing. Random Events. Until they sit down in September and come up with a whole new agenda."
"What makes you think that? That there'll be a new agenda?"
"Some things have been said by some of the People Upstairs. Not promises exactly, but I think you'll be pleased. They were happy with the Forrest Event, after all."
"You keep telling me that - you and Givings - but I don't understand what that leads up to."
"Sorry, but I can't say anything else right now. I don't have enough details. But I think it'll work out for you. By the way, we told you that the new Flasher you have is good for 3 tries before recharging. That's 3 tries within a 24 hour time period. If you keep stretching you Events out like you have, it'll just keep recharging between uses and you could probably do 1 a day indefinitely."
"Oh, I see. I meant to ask about that." I paused, but couldn't think of anything else to question. "So I just keep on doing random Events until you tell me otherwise?"
"That's about it." We were back in front of my place. "Is there any place I can drop you? Or is this good enough?"
"This'll be fine."

I got out of the car, and he drove away. It was going to be the hottest day of the year, so far. I was going to stay in.

YES.........

It's been 2 weeks since I got my "marching orders" - the change to how I should be pursuing Phase 2. A lot has happened, but none of it applicable to my task at hand.

Firstly, we've been suffering through a series of Heat Waves since July 2nd and the long Holiday Weekend for the 4th of July. Out of the 16 days so far this month, I understand that 10 of them have been above 90. Records have been set all over the tri-state area. This leads into...

Secondly, in this heat, no one goes out. I thought that finding people during the winter months was tough, but it's almost impossible to find one single person, alone, in this heat. We seem to crowd together at beaches, or jam together in car caravans to get there, or we don't leave the air-conditioned comfort of our own houses. I don't think I've seen even 1 single jogger. It's as if subconsciously we need to have someone with us in case we succumb to heat prostration. Which leads to....

Thirdly, I had a bout of dehydration, which kept me home for several days and necessitated a quick trip to the hospital for blood work and an Echo-cardiogram. Everything was fine, but I need to drink a lot more then I feel like. (Also, I had a biopsy scheduled for this week, and although I haven't gotten any of the results, I assume that no news is good news.)

So every morning I went out, usually with some errand or other to do, and although I wasn't "hunting" I did have my eyes open for any opportunity. No luck, until this morning..

I try to have a plan each day. What to do, where to go, and how to get there. This morning, I stopped for gas on Rahway Avenue, went to the Post Office there to mail some bills, and stopped at the Avenel Pathmark  on St. George's Avenue to see if they had a couple of things. They didn't.

On my way out of the store, I realized that I'd parked a little further to the right then I'd supposed. I turned in that direction, and noticed that halfway to my car, someone was sitting in theirs. I looked around. No one. I thought I felt my heart rate go up.

I took the Flasher from my back pocket, and held it by my side. I kept walking. Closer. I kept looking around. No one. She sat in the passenger seat, with the window rolled down. It looked like she was reading something.

Closer. Closer. Still no one. I lift the Flasher. Point, press, flash. I keep walking, putting the Flasher back and taking out my keys. I don't look back. No one calls out. It seems unnaturally quiet.

I get in my car, start it up, and drive past hers. She sits, slumped in the seat as if still reading. I drive on. The confirm comes in about 20 minutes. I spend the next several hours visiting libraries in Edison, Metuchen, Woodbridge, and Rahway. I get nothing. I see no one else. I don't care.

I'm back.

Back to Basics......

It's been 2 weeks since Givings met me, and filled me in on what was happening. As far as I know, the People Upstairs are still trying to figure out how to proceed. Since I wasn't moving forward, I've been enjoying my private life. There was an Engagement Party, a child's birthday, and Father's Day - which all kept me occupied for several weekends. But those are over now, and I'm faced with a lot of free time that I'm not really sure what to do with. That is, until yesterday when...
Doyle called.

We agreed to meet again by the Veteran's Memorial outside of the Main Library in Woodbridge. I drove this time, and saw him sitting on one of the benches as I walked over from the parking lot - his arms across the back and his face turned up towards the sun. Surprising. He was wearing a yellow, short-sleeved golf shirt over tan slacks - totally out of character with the button-down, suit wearer I was used to. As I got nearer, I saw that he was wearing loafers with no socks. He'd gone casual on me. But, I could also see that his face was different. He was paler then I remembered, and his flesh was slack, like he'd been sick, or lost weight.

Without moving, he said, "Nice day. Pull up a seat."

"Nice outfit."
"Thanks. I'm on vacation, or will be after we finish here."
"Couldn't Givings tell me whatever it is you want me to know? She did last time."
"Yeah, she could. But I wanted to, and after "torturing" me with 3 weeks of useless arguing, trapped in a windowless room with 6 fanatics, I deserve time off, and you deserve to know something concrete."
"Oh? Tell me."
He sat up a little straighter, and rolled his shoulders as if trying to work out some kinks.
"Here's the deal. Givings told you that the People Upstairs were very impressed with the Forrest Event, especially with how you took advantage of the situation. Very impressed. Me too. Anyway, she also told you that the second target hasn't been established. They want you to do a politician, but they can't agree on one. Apparently, the political situation in New Jersey is too volatile to meddle with right now."
"What, no one corrupt enough to take out - or not corrupt enough?"
"Not the point. They can't agree. End of discussion."
"So what happens now?"
"I'm coming to that." He stood. "Man, being locked in like that really got to me." He stretched. "I'm more of an outside kinda guy. I need to get back in shape. I look pasty and I feel bloated."
"I noticed. The pasty face, anyway. Bloating is beyond my observational skills."

He laughed, and sat back down.
"OK. Here's the deal. Givings told you that Phase 2 is on hold until they can make a decision, right? Well that's not gonna happen any time soon. besides the problem they have with deciding who to target, there are outside situations that have some demands on some of their time over the next month or so."
"What kind of demands could be more important?"
"Don't know. Don't want to know. Personal stuff, I guess, for a few of them. Whatever. The bottom line is that there won't be a continuation of Phase 2 until late August, at the earliest. I didn't think that would be a good use of your time."
"I'm flattered. What do you think I should be doing?" Since I didn't know what to do with myself, I was genuinely interested.

"You've got the new Flasher. I convinced them that you should use it."
"How? I mean, under what circumstances?"
"Back to basics. Random Events, like you did in Phase 1, only this time it'll be for real. And since the Flasher can be used up to 3 times before recharging, you may be able to stage 2 Events on the same day. What do you think?"
"Actually, it sounds pretty good. I can do that. Will I still be monitored?"
"Of course. And all the other guarantees will be in place in case you get caught, etc. Oh, and you should try to space out the Events geographically if you do more then 1 a day. You stay in practice and the Project moves forward - it's a win/win."
"All right. I can do that. Is there a number I need to stage?"
"Nope. That's the beauty of this. You're completely in charge. We're upping the price to $1,500 an Event, but the only limitation on you is the recharge time on the Flasher. You in?"
I didn't have to think about it.
"I'm in."
"Good." He stood. "I'm out of here. Givings will be in touch over the next few weeks, if necessary. Next time you see me, I'll be "Back in the Black", as we say at the office."

He chucked to himself, and walked away.
Now I had something to do for the Summer. And I knew that the People Upstairs are "6 fanatics". Knowledge is power.

Well, Well, Well ....
I hadn't heard anything since the Event last week, and I've been quietly making myself nuts by constantly checking my emails for the name of the next target. That stopped yesterday when I got a text message from "James" to meet this morning behind the Starbucks stand in the Food Court at the Menlo Park Mall at 9:00 AM. When I got there about a quarter to, there was no Doyle so I grabbed a table to wait for him.

"What? No coffee?" I looked up, and it was Givings.
"What? No Doyle?" She sat down across from me.
"Nope. He's all tied up in meetings with the People Upstairs. Which is why I'm here. The meetings I mean. They have to do with you."
"Oh? How? Haven't I been doing what they want?"
"Actually, you've turned out better then they expected. Let me get some coffee and I'll explain. Want anything?"
I shook my head "no" and she went to the Starbucks stand. It's bad enough that they charge so much for coffee, but she had to stand in line, too. It took about 20 minutes, but she was finally back with a coffee, and a muffin that probably cost $5. I was drumming my fingers on the table while she set herself up. Finally, she said,

"OK. Here's the deal. We told you - when we started Phase 2 a couple of months ago - that the People Upstairs were very impressed with how you handled Phase 1, remember?"
"Yeah. I remember. And Phase 2 is another 6 months, with only 3 Events. But we just pissed away a week, and I still don't know who the next Event involves."
"Patience..patience...all will be made clear in a few minutes." She drank some coffee, and ate some muffin. I tried to slow my breathing down. "Your efforts on the Dr. Forrest Event, putting aside the fact that you initially dragged your feet, also impressed them. In fact, they liked that you were planning something out involving the garage, but instead took advantage of an opportune situation to carry out the assignment."

I didn't bother to ask how they knew what I was planning.  I knew they had me watched, and the implant made following my movements extremely easy. I asked, instead,
"OK. So what do they want now? Why the delay?"
"There's no real delay, actually, since they are changing the rules slightly. The target they originally had for you is no longer viable. They've had Doyle in with them for the last week trying to decide on who the new one should be. Since the delay is on their part, they've decided to alter the time frame. Now you will be given 2 months in which to stage the next Event, starting from when they send you the name. After that, it will probably be another 2 months for the 3rd Event in the Phase, again starting from when they identify the  chosen target for you. understand?"
"Yeah. It's not that hard, but why the change?"
"They liked the way you thought on your feet, so I get the feeling that they are trying to pick a target that will be a little more challenging."
"So when, or how, do I get the name?"
"I don't know, so keep checking your emails. But once a day is sufficient. When they send it, it will be between 1 and 2 in the afternoon. That's what they said. Also, they are aware of your upcoming biopsy so they wanted me to assure you that if you need some time "off" due to a medical situation, they will place the Phase on hold until you can resume the effort."
"What do you mean by medical situation?"
"If it should become necessary for you to be hospitalized for observation, lets say, then - simply put - the clock will stop ticking until you're back in the game."
"That's real big of them." Sarcasm is lost on Givings. "Do they know something I don't?"
"No. But they are aware that you are only on one anti-rejection medicine as opposed to the usual two. They just wanted you to know that they are willing to be flexible since the Events are not time-specific."

She paused, finishing her coffee and muffin. I tried to think of something to say, but there was too much to get my mind around for a quick response. She stood.

"You'll hear from us, I believe, shortly. Most probably within the next week. Meantime, if I were you, I'd relax and enjoy the rest. Who knows when you'll get another."

With that, she turned and walked away, dropping her empty coffee cup and muffin wrapper in a receptacle, and taking the escalator to the ground floor.

I sat for a while, and thought about getting some coffee from the Burger King on the other side of the Food Court.

Serendipity, Who'd Have Thought....

Last Friday, my cardiologists office called. My next biopsy has been scheduled for July 14th at 8:30 AM, and they'd like for me to make a change to my meds. The level of the anti-rejection drug I take has been slightly high since my last biopsy in March and they wanted me to lower it. Starting that day, my dosage went from 2 mgs. twice a day, to 1 and 1/2 mgs. They also wanted some new blood tests, so they were going to mail me the scrip and I was to let them know when I went.

I held off going to stake out the hospital until I got the scrip, which came in yesterday. I went down this morning. As usual, I drove to Woodbridge Center and took the bus. The out-patient testing facility is in the Annex, on the 3rd floor. I signed in, showed my paperwork, and in under an hour, I was done. Since my cardiologists office is on the 6th floor, I decided to go up and let them know I'd had the blood drawn rather then call.

The upper floors of the Annex are laid out in the same manner. The elevator banks are on the extreme left-hand side, facing each other. There is a short hallway, with sets of doctor's offices branching off on either side. The hallway ends in a small waiting area, with 2 rest rooms, Men's and Ladies.

I got off on the 6th floor, and turned down the hall towards the cardiologists. Guess who came out of the door at that same time . . .

Dr. Grace  Forrest.

She didn't acknowledge me in any way as I continued toward her. She turned to her left, and the rest rooms. I followed. There was no one else in the hall. I assumed there had been a camera in the elevator. I looked around but saw no cameras in the hall.

I took out the Flasher as she opened the door to the Ladies room. She entered. Point, press, flash, and the door closed slowly as she sank to the floor. I entered the cardiologists office, and left word at the receptionists that I'd just had the blood work done. Back out to the elevators, down to the 1st floor, and out of the building.

I caught the next bus back to Woodbridge. While I was on it, my cell phone went off. A text message from James....

                                            ONE.

All that time trying to find a way to set up the Event in the garage, and I just walk right in to it.

Serendipity.

Trial Run, Take Two.....

I've spent 4 more days "AT" the hospital, alternating buses to and from, and varying where I stake myself out. These 4 days straddled the 3-day Memorial Day Weekend so I may need a few more days to complete my observations. What I have learned so far, however, is interesting.

I spent these days in and around the Annex and its near-by garage. I'd start the day in the cafeteria, then move to the lobby, or sit outside for a while - they have some benches set up out there. Or I'd take some time and wander through the garage, familiarizing myself with as much as possible of the 6 story structure with roof-top parking. Here's a few things I've learned:

1. No matter where I was sitting - the lobby, the cafeteria, or even the 5th floor which is where my cardiologist's office is - no one paid attention to me. It seems that the hospital staff only notices someone if they are looking for someone specifically, or they're hunting for an empty seat at a table they can eat at.

2. The concept of "security" doesn't seem to apply to the Annex or the garage. I know there are security guards in the hospital - I saw enough of them when I was there - but I've yet to see any in the Annex or garage.

3. The garage appears to be used by day trippers, and long-term parking. Dr. Forrest's car was easy enough to find, and it's always in  the same parking space on the second floor.

4. There is only one way from the Annex to the garage. Out the front door, across the street, and in, where the stairs going up are immediately to the left and the elevator is just a few feet further on.

There are a few more things to figure out. Where are the cameras in the garage, and how to get around them being the most important. But I now know it's just a matter of time.

I know where and how, I just need to figure out when.